Setting the stage to advance consumer adoption of contactless payment technology, MasterCard announced it will deploy a target of 410,000 MasterCard PayPass-enabled point of sale (POS) terminals throughout Japan.

Over the next three years, the 410,000 MasterCard contactless terminals will be deployed by domestic card companies including Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS, Sumitomo Mitsui Card, Orient Corporation and UC Card. This expansion of contactless payments in Japan will offering local consumers and those traveling abroad to enjoy the speed and convenience of making contactless transactions.

In February, MasterCard announced strong growth of contactless payments across the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa region in 2012, citing a 28 percent increase in merchant locations, reflecting a strong demand from consumers in the region for simple and secure ways to make everyday payments.

The early adoption and penetration of contactless payments in Japan, ahead of other countries, saw transactions amounting to over 2 trillion yen in 2011, according to the Bank of Japan. Contactless payments continue to expand at a rapid rate, in part due to the increased use of NFC payments.

MasterCard PayPass presently is accepted at approximately 866,000 merchant locations in 51 countries, is offered by more than 200 issuers worldwide. MasterCard contactless payments can be made at popular retailers including Macy’s, Walgreens and Toys R Us in the U.S.; Transport for London, Marks & Spencer and Carrefour in Europe; city taxis in Singapore and Taiwan; and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, 7-Eleven and Starbucks in several locations across Asia.